There's one kind of device I forgot to talk about in my list above:
Modem - A device that converts your raw internet signal coming into your house into an ethernet signal your router can use on it's "Internet/WAN" port. Example: A DSL router converts your raw phone line signal into an ethernet signal. Again, I warn you that a lot of ISP's will give you a device that is not just a modem, but also a Modem, Router, Switch AND an AP all rolled into one. You have to configure it to be JUST be a modem.
Also, now that I think about it, the Linksys RV082 is a great device, but it's not easy to configure. There's quite a few extra pages of settings because that router has a lot of features. Something like the Linksys BEFSR81 will work just as well.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
Finally, all devices on the network must have DIFFERENT IP addresses which are NOT in the range of the router's DHCP server, but are ALL on the same subnet. For linksys routers, the default range for the DHCP server is 192.168.1.100-150, and all the routers by default have the IP 192.168.1.1. You will have to a) change the IP address for each AP to a different number, e.g. 192.168.1.2, 192.168.1.3 etc, THEN b) disable the DHCP server, THEN c) Plug it into the rest of your network and test.
When connecting your APs to your network, do not use the wan/internet port. You connect the AP to the main router via a normal cable by plugging the cable into a normal port on the router, and a normal port on the AP. No crossover cables needed. No special settings needed except turning off the DHCP server on the AP. The wan/internet port should ONLY be used by the main router to connect to your internet.
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by: Frosty555Posted on 2009-02-18 at 21:25:47ID: 23678122
High gain antennaes improve signal on a horizontal plane, but limit it in all other directions. Think flashlight vs. bare light bulb. It won't help you here.
Cisco, 3Com, D-link (when you don't get their bottom-line stuff) are good brands. Linksys is very good but their consumer line of products are getting worse and worse. Buffalo, Netgear and Belkin are garbage in my opinion. I don't have experience with the others.
Wireless range extenders I find are terribly ineffective and unreliable, especially on wireless networks that have security enabled. I stay as far away from them as possible. Examples:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
http://www.usedottawa.com/
Router - Handles the assignment of IP addresses to computers, and handles all LAN <-> Internet communication. Also handles the firewall and security and port forwarding.
Switch / Hub - Handles all LAN <-> LAN communication. Any data coming in on one port gets sent out another port depending on where it was headed. These can be daisy chained together, as long as you're careful to avoid "loops" in the connections.
AP (Wireless Access Point) - It's a switch, but instead of having physical ports, computers connect wirelessly instead. In theory yo ucan have several AP's all using the same SSID (wireless network ID). However, I find with consumer devices this is hit or miss. It's more reliable to give each one it's own ID.
Wireless Bridge - connects two routers together wirelessly, making them part of the same network, in order to provide wired connectivity at a remote location. Great for, say, bridging the network of two independant buildings together. Not really what you want.
Wireless Repeater/Extender - Listens for a wireless signal, and then immediately rebroadcasts it. They must be far enough away from the AP that they don't interfere with the signal, yet close enough that they hear the signal okay. This means there is ALWAYS a "confusion zone" right in the middle where computers hear BOTH the AP, and then the extender a few milliseconds later. Yuck.
Most consumer devices you see on the market are a *combination* of the above devices. For example, the WRT54GL (http://www.amazon.ca/Link
So what do you want? Probably you want something like the image attached. One dedicated router which connects to the internet. Then you have separate "AP" devices which connect via lan cables to the router. Each AP is on a different floor, each has it's own SSID.
For your router, use a good quality router that is ONLY a router. The Linksys RV082 is my pick. It's pricy, but you'll never need to buy another one again. It is a dedicated router with 8 ports, and 64mb or ram. If you have more than 10 computers on your network, it is vital that you have a good strong router at the core, because almost all packets will flow through this router and it will be under considerable strain.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
For your AP's use either the WRT54GL's, or use the WRT54GS (the speedbooster model of the linksys WRT line). Technically almost any wireless router will work so long as you can disable the DHCP server. These devices will function as APs, and four port switches, giving you wired access to all three floors as well. Make sure you turn off the DHCP server on them so that they function as switches/APs rather than routers.
http://www.ncix.com/produc
proposed network layout